Spectacle case



Oct. 27, 1953 R. F. E. STEGEMAN SPECTACLE CASE Filed July 1, 1952 INVENTOR.

R. F E. ST EGEMAN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1953 SPECTACLE CASE Raymond F. E. Stegeman, Greece, N. Y., assignor to Bausch & Lomb Optical Company Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 1, 1952, Serial No. 296,553

The present invention relates to improved spectacle cases that will protect the spectacles against crushing and scratching while still being pleasing in appearance and practical in use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rigid case with sufficient support so that spectacles when stored therein will be protected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case that is light weight and not bulky to carry.

Still another object is to provide a case designed to be manufactured in a few simple steps.

A further object is to provide novel means to support the walls of the case.

These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my rimproved eyeglass case,

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central, sectional view taken through Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, central, sectional view taken through Fig. 3.

The spectacle case I illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is composed of a one-piece U-shaped laminated sheet 2 bent at edge 3 to form a front wall portion 4 and rear wall portion 5, a flap 6 is formed as a continuation of the rear wall 5 and folds over the top or open side of the case to close same. A pin or post I removably mounted between resiliently supported walls 4 and 5 acts to hold the case in shape, to support the spectacles, to give support for applied pressure for snapping the fastener closed, and to prevent the spectacles from sliding out the ends of the case, as will more fully appear below.

The main body portion or plate I is formed of resilient material (1. e., metal, plastic, or the like) with a thin sheet of plastic, cloth or like flexible material I2 on the inner side thereof and similar or contrasting material I4 on the outer side thereof. At the edges of the sheet material I0, the flexible materials I2 and I4 are joined as by sewing, heat seaming or the like. In the embodiment shown, the material I2 and I4 is a well known plastic joined by heat seaming. A decorative rib I6 extends continuously around the edge of the case. Beyond bend III the two plastics may be fused, as shown, or laminated. The flap 6 is hinged to back along bend III.

In back wall 5 a forwardly depressed portion 1 Claim. (Cl. 206--5) cry 2 is formed in the resilient plate ID with a hole 22 therethrough aligned with hole 24 in material I2. Fastened in these holes is an ordinary stud 26 with its base flange 28 in the depression in plate I0 and the stem 30 projecting through the holes 22 and 24 inwardly into the inner portion of the case. The male member or head 32 of the stud is secured over the stem 30 in conventional fashion.

In front wall 4 a hole 34 extends through the sheet metal, the inner plastic and the outer plastic, in substantial alignment with the holes 22 and 24. Another hollow stud 38 is fastened therein in conventional fashion with the male member or head 40 projecting outwardly toward the front of the case. On the outer end of the flap 0 is secured a conventional cooperating spring-socket fastener or gripper 42 constructed to snap over stud 30 to hold the flap closed.

Within the case is a post or pin I which tapers to a narrow forward portion or head 46 and at its rear portion has a socket or opening 48. Socket or opening 48 is arranged to engage over the head or male member 32 of stud 2G, and the forward portion or head 46 fits into the rear opening 50 of the forward stud 38. The front and rear walls 4 and 5 are sprung apart so that pin I may be put in place and be held therein by the resilience of plate I0.

In use, an assembled case will have the lens portion of a pair of spectacles inserted into the pocket 52 with the nosepiece of the spectacles on pin I, the temples of the spectacles can then be folded so they will lie in front of the front wall 4, the flap 6 is then folded down over the temples and button 42 is snapped over stud 40 to give a neat, safe and compact carrying case.

Figs. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the present invention wherein I00 represents the spectacle case, I02 is a U-shaped body portion, I03 and I04 are wall portions, I05 is a curved bottom portion, I08 is a double pointed pin or post member and I08 is a two button strap for securing the spectacles in place in the case.

A sheet metal or plastic resilient plate H0 is sandwiched between two layers of sheet material H2 and H4. Sheets H2 and H4 are fastened along their edges enclosing the plate IIO. A rib H6 is formed all around the edge of the outer sheet II4.

.Fastened in the wall portions 5&3 and I04 are identical studs H8. The stud III) has a rear flanged base member II!!! and a forward male fastening member I22 which engage over each other in conventional manner. A pin or post I06 is formed with two tapered end portions or heads I24 and I26 which engage in the respective rear openings I28 of the studs H8. Strap I03 is formed with a rib H6 around the outer edge similar to rib H6 on sheet H4. Strap IE8 has a button I30 and spring socket, gripper or fastener I32 on each end thereof for engagement with the studs H8. when one gripper is engaged and the other released, the engaged gripper acts as the pivot or hinge for the cover or flap strap I08 to cover the open top of the case. When the spectacle case is manufactured, the walls I03 and I04 are bent to an included angle of approximately 8. Pin I06 is of such a length that is forces the sides apart to an angle of around 18, this is done against the resilience of sheet I I0. The force of the walls against the pin together with the penetration of points I25 and I28 into the openings I20 of studs H8 combine to give a firm, yet llexible, case. The pin or post 106 not only acts to hold the wails sepa-- rated but also acts as a support for the bridge piece of the glasses and as a brace against which the force required to snap the button I32 onto stud H8 is transmitted through the case to the corresponding part on the other wall. The button is engaged with the stud by a squeezing pressure on opposite walls of the case acting through the post I06. The strap I08, being double ended, permits ready use of either side of the case.

The present modification may be made wi 1- out sheet material H2 and I I4, in which case the plate H may be lacquered, coated or otherwise decorated.

In use, a pair of spectacles is placed between the walls I03 and I04, the temples are then folded up against the outside of whichever side the hinge permits and the strap IE8 is fastened over the temples by means of the button to secure the, spectacles firmly and safely in place. Or the spectacles may be folded with the temples against the frame and the whole element placed between the resilient walls I03 and I04; thereafter the strap I08 is fastened over the top to hold the spectacles completely protected.

The buttons on both ends of the strap permit easy removal or insertion of the spectacles into the case without turning the case over.

The pins or posts I06 and I are easily manufactured, requiring no expensive or time consuming machine operations to produce them. They 4 are readily inserted by just snapping them into place, pin I06 making use of the openings I28, and pin 1 making use of opening and stud 26, such openings I28 and 50 already exist in the fastening elements.

When used with the laminated showings of the spectacle case, the stud 28 holds the sheet material l2 and I4 to the plate I0 in Fig. 2 and studs 38 and H8 hold material I I2 and H4 to the plate H0 in Fig. 4, this prevents creeping of the material and gives a neater appearance to the finished product.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the structure provides highly desirable features from the user's standpoint. These same features are highly practical from a manufacturing viewpoint.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A spectacle case comprising a channel shaped resilient member which is substantially U-shaped in vertical section, said member having integrally connected front and rear walls, pliable sheet ma terial enclosing said walls to form a lining and a covering for the case, said sheet material having a flap forming a closure for the open top oi the case, a stud extending inwardly through the rear wall, a stud extending outwardly through the front wall and having a rearwardly facing open ing, a spring socket on the flap cooperating with the outwardly extending stud for releasably holding the flap, and a post holding said walls in spaced relation, one end of the post being tapered and positioned in the rearwardly facing 1 opening in the stud in the front wall, the other end of the post having a socket formed therein, the inwardly directed stud in the rear wall being positioned in said socket, the resilience of the member exerting a clamping action to hold the studs in engagement with the ends of the post.

RAYMOND F. E. S'IEGEMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 565,528 Zoerb Aug. 11, 1896 602,025 White Apr. 5, 1898 628,103 Mariner July 4, 1899 

